Walk of Faith for Peace and Freedom in Tibet concludes/ENG

2012. január 31./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA January 31: The ‘Walk for Faith and Peace in Tibet’ formally concluded yesterday with a press conference held at the Tibetan exile headquarters of Dharamshala.

On the road for over three weeks, the four voluntary marchers had begun their walk on January 9 from the holy Indian town of Bodh Gaya, coinciding with the 32nd Kalachakra teachings.

After receiving a special audience and blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the four marchers carried their prayers and mission to other holy Buddhist sites of Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Lumbini across India and Nepal.

“While we proceed with our Walk, the main activities we have done were arranging a series of Buddhist virtuous actions such as offerings, prayers, purification, giving alms in charity, releasing lives and so on,” the marchers said in a release.

Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari, a third generation Tibetan in exile and daughter of former political prisoner, late Lha Gyari Namgyal Gyatso initiated the Walk along with Joe Hamilton, a Tibetan activist and song writer based in Germany, Kunchok Norbu, a Ladakhi, and Tashi Namgyal, a student of Ladakhi origin studying at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School.

“This Walk of faith is a walk to complete the prayers of His Holiness, a Walk to follow the footsteps of my father, a Walk to explain the trauma of Tibet, a Walk to honour the dedication of the Tibetan martyrs and a Walk to reunite the Tibetan people,” Dolkar Lhagyari had said at the beginning of the Walk.

Lauding the four marchers for their initiative, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, who was present at the press conference, said that the Walk would have consoled and inspired the people in Tibet at a time of great crisis.

At least a dozen Tibetans were reportedly killed in Tibet last week when police opened fire on unarmed Tibetans demanding the return of the Dalai Lama. Since March 2011, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire protesting China’s occupation of Tibet.

The young girl who draws lineage from Tibet’s greatest King, Songtsen Gampo, noted that she drew inspiration from the accomplishments of the ‘Great Dharma Kings of Tibet’ and the sacrifices of the ‘countless Tibetan martyrs.’

“We have been fortunate to find refuge in India and receive education under the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We have the responsibility to fulfill his dreams and live up to the expectations of our forefathers,” said Dolkar.

“To fight for our rights prudently, to have vision for the restoration of our independence, and to practice freedom of expression are the basic principles of our people in this 21st century,” added Dolkar.

Joe Hamiilton, who has been a long time supporter of the Tibetan struggle noted that Tibetans in exile must stand up for the plight of the people inside Tibet.

"Tibetans in Tibet are doing what they can and Tibetans in exile also must do the same," Joe Hamilton said.

DHARAMSHALA January 31: The ‘Walk for Faith and Peace in Tibet’ formally concluded yesterday with a press conference held at the Tibetan exile headquarters of Dharamshala.

On the road for over three weeks, the four voluntary marchers had begun their walk on January 9 from the holy Indian town of Bodh Gaya, coinciding with the 32nd Kalachakra teachings.

After receiving a special audience and blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the four marchers carried their prayers and mission to other holy Buddhist sites of Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Lumbini across India and Nepal.

“While we proceed with our Walk, the main activities we have done were arranging a series of Buddhist virtuous actions such as offerings, prayers, purification, giving alms in charity, releasing lives and so on,” the marchers said in a release.

Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari, a third generation Tibetan in exile and daughter of former political prisoner, late Lha Gyari Namgyal Gyatso initiated the Walk along with Joe Hamilton, a Tibetan activist and song writer based in Germany, Kunchok Norbu, a Ladakhi, and Tashi Namgyal, a student of Ladakhi origin studying at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School.

“This Walk of faith is a walk to complete the prayers of His Holiness, a Walk to follow the footsteps of my father, a Walk to explain the trauma of Tibet, a Walk to honour the dedication of the Tibetan martyrs and a Walk to reunite the Tibetan people,” Dolkar Lhagyari had said at the beginning of the Walk.

Lauding the four marchers for their initiative, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, who was present at the press conference, said that the Walk would have consoled and inspired the people in Tibet at a time of great crisis.

At least a dozen Tibetans were reportedly killed in Tibet last week when police opened fire on unarmed Tibetans demanding the return of the Dalai Lama. Since March 2011, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire protesting China’s occupation of Tibet.

The young girl who draws lineage from Tibet’s greatest King, Songtsen Gampo, noted that she drew inspiration from the accomplishments of the ‘Great Dharma Kings of Tibet’ and the sacrifices of the ‘countless Tibetan martyrs.’

“We have been fortunate to find refuge in India and receive education under the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We have the responsibility to fulfill his dreams and live up to the expectations of our forefathers,” said Dolkar.

“To fight for our rights prudently, to have vision for the restoration of our independence, and to practice freedom of expression are the basic principles of our people in this 21st century,” added Dolkar.

Joe Hamiilton, who has been a long time supporter of the Tibetan struggle noted that Tibetans in exile must stand up for the plight of the people inside Tibet.

"Tibetans in Tibet are doing what they can and Tibetans in exile also must do the same," Joe Hamilton said.